How much will be spent for Bagong Pilipinas rally? PCO says no specific number yet

The total amount of expenses for the upcoming Bagong Pilipinas campaign kick-off rally is still unclear amid criticisms that the event to launch the Marcos administration’s brand of government would be a waste of public funds.

At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Gerard Baria said, “Currently walang specific number (there’s no specific number).”

The PCO official was asked how much was the budget allotted for the Bagong Pilipinas rally to be held on Sunday, Jan. 28, at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

Baria, however, said expenses for attendees from various government agencies will be provided by their respective department secretaries.

“For majority of the performing artists, it’s mostly voluntary or may mga donors na nag-provide kasi madami naman kaibigan na supporter at part din ng Bagong Pilipinas ang private support,” he said.

(For majority of the performing artists, it's mostly voluntary or there are donors who provided [funds] because there are many friends who are supporters. Private support is also part of Bagong Pilipinas.)

“Ganun ‘yung distribution ng expenses sa gagawing event na ‘to,” he added.

(That's how the expenses will be distributed for this event.)

Asked how much the PCO alone had earmarked for the event, Baria said, “That’s beyond my pay-grade.”

For her part, PCO Director Cris Villonco said that the rally is a multi-agency effort “as well as private partners who have done their part in doing so in promoting the Bagong Pilipinas.”

Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares criticized the upcoming rally as a “waste of people’s resources.”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Colmenares said that the government will be spending on a pointless rally.

“Sa gitna ng kahirapan at kawalan ng ayuda, gagastos na naman ang gobyerno sa isang rally na walang katuturan,” the Bayan Muna chairman said.

(In the midst of poverty and lack of financial aid, the government will again spend on a rally that is not relevant.)

In defense of the kick-off rally, Baria said that the significance of Bagong Pilipinas deserves to be publicized.

“Sa laki ng extent and significance ng Bagong Pilipinas, deserve nito ng ganito kalaking megaphone… Sa sobrang laki ng idea nito, hindi enough na ganu'n lang siya [na] press release or EO [executive order] lang. Kailangan itong ipagsigawan para ma-absorb sa mga kaluluwa ng Pilipino kasi lahat tayo magpa-participate dito. An idea as big as this deserves an event as big as this,” the PCO official said.

(With the wide extent and significance of Bagong Pilipinas, it deserves this big a megaphone. Due to its size, it is not enough to just have a press release or EO. It has to be announced well so Filipinos will absorb it because all of us will participate in it.)

Mandatory?

While PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil said that attendance at the rally among Malacañang employees is voluntary, there were reports that some government staff have been required to attend the activity.

To set the record straight, Baria said government workers’ attendance to the event “is not required but it is encouraged kasi makakatulong ‘yan sa Bagong Pilipinas (because it will help Bagong Pilipinas).”

“This is part of our job… Similar ‘yan sa isang Christmas party. Isa siyang masayang event. Hindi naman talaga tayo technically required pumunta pero makiki-support sa company natin, makiki-celebrate, hindi ba. Puwede siyang gawing time-off credit o kaya may OT pay,” Baria said.

(It is similar to a Christmas party. It is a happy event. We are not technically required to attend but we will support our company and celebrate, right? It can be used as time-off credit or be allotted overtime pay.)

The kick-off rally, which is free for those who wish to attend, will also be live-streamed nationwide.

Organizers are expecting some 200,000 attendees at the event.

Baria said that the administration’s Bagong Pilipinas campaign is more than just a branding, but a multi-layered concept of the country’s bid to push to progress.

In the same forum, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Odilon Pasaraba said that the firm support of local government units for Bagong Pilipinas is vital as they are the institutions that would help bring the services of the government closer to the people.

Pasaraba said that one goal of the Bagong Pilipinas is to empower more Filipinos to further encourage them to participate in governance.

Government officials, celebrities and other invited personalities are also expected to attend the rally.

A “Serbisyo Fair” will also be conducted alongside other entertainment activities.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority earlier released the road closures and route alternatives that will be implemented during the Bagong Pilipinas kick-off rally on January 28. —KG, GMA Integrated News